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Kate Brown Corrupts Application Process for Judicial Appointments

Wilsonville, OR – Despite her promises of transparency and accountability, Democrat Governor Kate Brown used her office this past week to secure prominent positions for her friends and allies, especially ones who shell out cash for her campaign. Brown’s state lawyer, Ben Souede, was allowed to skip the normal application process to get a seat on the bench for the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Moreover, Souede is a major Democrat donor, and his wife, Jill Souede, donated $1,000 to Brown’s campaign.

Gov. Kate Brown's state lawyer was able to skip the application process followed by other candidates for openings on the Multnomah County Circuit Court, Brown's staff said late this week.

The governor's office also allowed a state legislator from Lake Oswego to interview with a special panel of lawyers, separate from the one that reviewed other applicants for a seat on the Clackamas County Circuit Court.

Judicial candidates typically fill out application forms and interview with panels of lawyers selected by the governor's office before the governor personally interviews finalists.

In the case of Brown's general counsel Ben Souede, officials in the governor's office said no additional vetting was necessary. Souede was among three lawyers Brown tapped earlier this week to fill vacancies on the Multnomah County Circuit Court. Souede was also on the interview panel that met with candidates for the two other openings on the Multnomah County Circuit Court.”

“Appointing fair, impartial, and competent judges is a serious matter and not one that should be used to reward the Governor's political cronies or be doled out to the largest donors,” said Oregon GOP Chairman Bill Currier. “When the vetting of a judicial appointee turns out to be nothing more than a charade for the benefit of public perception and to provide cover for the insider system of political payoffs and patronage, it is easy to see why Kate Brown is so often seen as being ethically-challenged.”

“Brown may think she can fool the people of Oregon into believing all her phony talk about transparency and accountability, but in reality, she’s just another ‘D-machine’ politician willing to use her office to benefit Democrat party insiders,” added Currier. “Kate Brown is Oregon’s ‘Queen of Cronyism’ and yet another reason why Oregonians are ready for a change in 2018.’”

The Oregon Republican Party is the state’s arm of the Republican National Committee. It’s Chairman and officers are dedicated to preserving and advancing Republican principles within the state of Oregon and to improving the lives and livelihoods of Oregon’s working families through economic freedom and equal protection under the law.